Dom in Dorset

Take up the ukelele.

I have actually done this. I needed a music room where I could record and practice or just hide from my family so I lined and insulated one of my sheds. I used the silver bubble wrap type insulation and plasterboard. The shed has light and power from the workshop next door and is heated with an oil filled radiator (£30 from Argos). It stays nice and dry and the cat lives in there with me so no mice. My nice Ibanez AEB still lives in the house but my amp, Epi T bird and a couple of cheap guitars are permanent residents.

The Fender Aerodine was my favourite bass on looks alone, now it's that particular Fender Aerodine Jazz.

[quote name='jezzaboy' post='734579' date='Feb 3 2010, 10:30 PM']What I`d like to know is how you can be a Hawkwind tribute band and be a trio!! Tell him to stuff it. And the drummer if he`s wanting to go along with the guitarist. I would never let anyone tell me what to play, I can ba*ls it up on my own thank you. If you aren`t happy you should walk. It is supposed to fun after all. By the way, like the idea of the tea cosy. Jez[/quote] The last time I saw Hawkwind (a long , long time ago ,15 years ?) they were a trio.

I'll run it by the boss tomorrow.

I'd be interested subject to availability. I do repairs for a shop in Westbury, they'd probably be up for doing some sort of trade stand, would you be interested?

If it's only for four or five songs you might be better off getting a good four string rather than a not so hot five. Ibanez four strings are about £200 (Nevada music) Ibanez EWB205WNE-NT 5-String £339 ( Dolphin music)

First question- was this a good/ half decent bass in the past? My (limited) experience of Hondo stuff leads me to suspect that you could waste a lot of time and money turning an sub-par bass into an also ran. Is it a paint finish , clear laquer or natural wood? If it's a paint finish you may find that the wood undereath is prety gastly as it was never intended to be seen. As I understand it you intend to use only the neck and body? Before you start satisfy yourself that they are of suficient quality to deserve your time and money. Even if it is total cr@p you could still use it to try out new pick up combinations , wiring, de-fretting etc.

Life is too short to waste your time playing in a band that you don't like. I've always said that if a band is sh1t hot and I love the music , I'll be happy to be tea boy. It sounds like you are acting as tea boy for a band you don't like, it's probably better to get out now before it turns ugly.

Wizard pick ups do a PJ combo (two types of pj combo), not tried it myself but their stuff always seems to get rave reviews , as does their custumer service.

There are loads of books on building electric guitars, that's the only one that I have. I chose it because it had a foreword by Brain May! I can recomend this place for buying components: [url="http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/CH-GUITARS__W0QQ_armrsZ1"]http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/CH-GUITARS__W0QQ_armrsZ1[/url] I have no financial interests here, I've bought two necks from them, I'll be back for bridges, machines etc.

It's about 50/50, he concentrates on aspects of design, pitfalls etc. appart from size and number of strings a bass isn't that different to a guitar, most of the build techniques are the same.

Make your own electric guitar by Melvyn Hiscock. It's on amazon, great book.

I used to be one of the organisers of the acoustic night. Let's just say I don't go any more! There is a new one starting in the (re-opened, clean and nice) Castle Inn on 12thy Feb, I'll be playing there.

I constantly bore people here with how pleased I am with my Ibanez (AEB8E?) it's a four string but I bet they do 5 and I bet it's good.

Shaftesbury is fine by me, I'm just up the road in Bruton. I've got a lot on my plate but I'm happy to help as time allows.

Put me down as a possible definite. Where and when were you thinking of doing this?

Thanks for your input. I've just done a quick search and it seems that they are a friendly bunch to deal with, I might just ask them for advice.

I'm not sure if this is the right room , feel free to move it. I'm planning on buying Wizard pick ups for my twin neck. To keep costs down and because I wan't a fat gorgeous sound I'm planning on getting their P bass pick ups. I'm tempted by the "Thumper" , in their words : "An overwound and uprated P Bass pickup for those who like a more earthy dark sound blended with a good volume and attack. With a DC resistance overall of 14 k ohms this'll hit your amp hard." They are the same price as the trad p bass pick up. I like the idea of a powerful output, do these give a dirty sound? My bass will have one fretted neck (p bass pup), one fretless with p bass pup and piezo bridge. anyone tried them?

I'm not jealous because I'm not that keen on active basses. oooh wait a minute, It's passive.... I hate him.

one neck will be de-fretted.

The necks tunred up today, they were from here: [url="http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/CH-GUITARS__W0QQ_armrsZ1"]http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/CH-GUITARS__W0QQ_armrsZ1[/url] they were £49 each, reading stuff on here about off the peg necks it seemed that necks from £50-£100 are prety much the same, good and bad stories about cheap and mid price necks. I chose this shop because they gave precise measurments ie width at the nut, 12th fret etc. the necks were ordered on friday, turned up saturday (while I was out). Both necks have a slightly raised 3rd fret, not a big problem , otherwise nicely made, quite delicate. The next step is to try some dummy bodies from mdf, ply etc, to get the ergonomics and ballance sorted. Yes , my photos are cr@p!, It's a cheap camera and I'm sh1t at photography + my hands start shaking as soon as i pick up a camera.

[quote name='thunderbird13' post='722259' date='Jan 23 2010, 03:52 PM']? I was told that you shouldnt rest any of your arm on the guitar as it can aggrivate the wrist and cause injuries - is that not true ?[/quote] I'm not a medical man but it's never caused me any problems (as far as I know John Entwistle didn't suffer any problems either, and he would have put in a lot more playing hours than me) IMO what you were told is most definitely not true. It's a very comfortable way to play the Tbird and it cures the neck dive. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the designers intension that it should be played like that, try it , it feels just right.

[quote name='Shaggy' post='722064' date='Jan 23 2010, 12:00 PM']Personally I think this is one of those myths that gets handed down to each successive generation of bassists. (second statement agreed with, of course!) I like to rest my right hand on the top body bout so you can really dig in hard and fast against the strings - like Thunderfingers (pic) - only wish I had an ounce of the talent! That's what makes my '65 T'bird IV the most ergonomic bass I've ever played, by a big margin. The well-known strap button re-position mod sorts out the balance issue. [/quote] I do agree with this, in my original post I meant that if you like Tbirds it doesn't matter what design flaws they are said to have, you still love them and play them. I also play with my right hand resting on the body, it cures the neck dive without having to move the strap button.

The T bird is all about the triumph of style over practicality. It's the bass that says "wake up , it's time to rock!" I've got an epi, I'd have a Gibson if I had the cash.